PITTSBURGH — Once the Reds dropped the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader vs. the Pirates — a game they should have won — it intensified the stakes for them. They absolutely had to win Game 2, some way, somehow.
And that’s just what they did with a 6-5 victory in 10 innings over Pittsburgh, as Cincinnati took two of three games in the series. To reach win No. 62 for the season — which matched their total for all of 2022 — manager David Bell used six relievers and all of his position players.
“We have a long way to go. Our goal is to get a lot more wins,” Bell said. “Today was just a game where we were absolutely grinding it out and found a way to win. It took everyone. Everyone contributed. Rarely is it easy or pretty and today was a grind. That’s what it takes. Because of that, it was an even better win.”
It was Cincinnati’s first series win since July 28-30 vs. the Dodgers. Heading into Game 2, the Reds were 2-9 since the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline. It kept them tied for second place with the Cubs and 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Brewers in the National League Central and a half-game out of the NL Wild Card.
“Like I’ve always said, this team never gives up. It’s always up until the end, up until the last moments of the game,” shortstop Elly De La Cruz said via translator Jorge Merlos.
Elly De La Cruz’s solo homer (10)
De La Cruz rebounded from going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts during the 4-2 loss in Game 1 with two hits in Game 2 — including a 442-foot home run to center field in the third inning.
“Especially since we lost that first game, we knew we had to go and take the last game and the series as well,” De La Cruz said. “Of course, it will be a happy flight.”
The bullpen did not come through in Game 1, as it spoiled a strong start by Brandon Williamson, who gave up one run over 5 2/3 innings.
Lucas Sims, who gave up a first-pitch homer and blew a lead on Tuesday vs. the Marlins his last time out, walked his first batter upon replacing Williamson in the sixth but got out of the inning. Back for the seventh, he walked the leadoff batter and was lifted.
Brandon Wiliamson strikes out six
Lefty Alex Young, pitching for the first time since leaving a game with back spasms on Aug. 6, surrendered a one-out walk before pinch-hitter Jared Triolo hit a three-run homer to left field — the first homer of his big league career.
The bullpen didn’t wait long for redemption in Game 2, after starter Luke Weaver provided only 3 2/3 innings while giving up four earned runs.
Until the final inning, Cincinnati never led but tied the game twice. Over 6 1/3 innings, Sam Moll, Fernando Cruz, Ian Gibaut, Buck Farmer, Alexis Díaz and Daniel Duarte, combined for one run allowed. Gibaut allowed Bryan Reynolds’ second homer of the game in the seventh inning.
“It’s super important to get this victory and keep us close in the [postseason] race,” Díaz said via Merlos.
In the top of the eighth while down, 5-3, the Reds scored two runs with pinch-hitter Stuart Fairchild’s ground-rule double to left field providing the tying run.
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Díaz took over from Farmer with one out in the bottom of the eighth and worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
“In that eighth inning, it was just about getting those two outs as quickly as possible,” Díaz said. “Sure enough, we were able to do that. Came out in the ninth and tried to get the outs as quickly as possible as well.”
It took an unglamorous hustle play for the Reds to take the lead. With runners on the corners, Fairchild grounded to shortstop and beat the throw to first base to avoid the double play as pinch-runner Tyler Stephenson scored.
“Our guys have such a great attitude about when they don’t start a game, they’re looking for that opportunity to come in and contribute,” Bell said.
Fairchild plates go-ahead run
In the bottom of the 10th, Bell turned to Duarte for the save situation. Duarte, who was called up from Triple-A Louisville to be the 27th man for the doubleheader, worked a 1-2-3 inning for his first save in the big leagues.
The Reds earned their Major League-leading 37th come-from-behind victory.
“We talked about it in the bullpen, ‘Don’t worry about anything that’s going on. Just go out there and throw strikes as well as you can,'” Díaz said he told Duarte. “I’m so happy he was able to get that save.”